Free Game & Curriculum on History of Detroit!

Age Range: 8 and up (with parental supervision, non-readers will need assistance)

The Detroit Historical Society sponsors this website that provides free curriculum, an interactive timeline, and a fun interactive game focused on the geographic, economic, historic, and cultural events in Detroit from 1600 to 1901. The presentation highlights the history of Native Americans, military occupation, fur trading, economic and population growth, industrialization, and the Underground Railroad, as well as the influence of French, British, Spanish, and Dutch explorers and immigrants.

When you get to the site, you can select from three items on the menu that include:

*Building Detroit: The Game – Play a game that allows you to help build the city of Detroit over five generations. As you progress through the game, you’ll learn about people and events of historical importance.

*Detroit History – Explore an interactive timeline that covers events from 1600-1901.

*Curriculum – Get free lessons plans in social studies and English language arts. Designed with third grade classroom students in mind, it can be enjoyed by a wider age/grade range and tweaked for homeschool use. The lessons are divided into six sections as follows:

Before 1701 – Learn about the Native Americans who inhabited the area and explore Anishinabeg culture and oral traditions.

1701-1760 French Detroit – Meet French explorers and learn about the French fur trade.

1761-1796 British Detroit – Find out about Pontiac’s Rebellion, life in British Detroit, and the American Revolution.

1796-1825 Early American Detroit – Meet people of historical importance to Detroit, and learn about the great fire of 1805.

1825-1865 Boomtown Detroit – Discover how Detroit became a city, and its role in the Underground Railroad.

1866-1901 Industrial Detroit – Learn how Detroits natural resources led to its industrialization.